More William

am's

wall of the White Lion, gazing at the passers-by with

r that he had not confined his attent

casual glance, when something attracted his attention. He stopped and looked back, then, turning ro

he said at last i

s and stroked the long hai

in'," he said

did?" persi

is new friend, moving unsteadily

ff in the war," sa

or and that's the truth. But I didn't get 'em cut orf in the wor. Well

t the small apertures that in his strange new friend to

ithout 'em?" he

iend n

ident awe and respect. "I don't want all folks knowin' 'bout it. See? It kinder marks a man, this 'ere sort

f the White Lion and roared out "Bo

manly air. His friend, who said his name was Mr. Blank, showed a most flattering interest in him. He elicited from him the whereabouts of hi

's ears, gave the required information readily, glad to be abl

the war," said

h a sigh. "It were orl right, but I s'pose, like mos' th

any of those boys who sat next him at school and joined in the feeble relaxations provided by the authorities out of school, ever done this-ever sat at a real

sat and snapped at

n a sibilant whisper-"di

laugh that made Wi

e? Me kill any

satisfaction. Here was roma

do now the

k closed

e tellin',

n a sibilant whisper-"Di

cret," pleaded William.

k shook

ter know fer, a

ed eagerly, hi

to do jus' the sa

ad and emitted guffaw after

That's good, that is. You wait, young gent, you wait till

led his cap dow

good day to ye

oked at hi

r. Blank, I would, honest. Wi

me agine fer?" said M

e the way you talk, and I like the things yo

as obviousl

I've gotter be careful, I 'ave. I've gotter be careful 'oo sees me an'

ut he was thrilled to

you seen me nor nothing a

Blank set off unsteadily down the road, leaving W

e expected from his father and mother and Robert and Ethel, but his determinati

tense mystery, pulling his cap over his eyes

y coming into the house in y

wondered if Mr. B

p. He would be a man of mystery, a murderer, fighter, forger. He fingered his ears tentatively. They seemed fixed on jolly fast. He glanced with

Mrs. Brown was saying. "All her jewellery gone. They think it's a gan

pressed hi

lated, with a slight

d round and loo

litely, "where you pick

my fren's," said Will

on Mr. Brown, "if you'd kindly refrain from ai

it again, William," translat

I won't. See? I da-jolly wel

ystery and dignity combined, leaving

ite Lion. Mr. Blank was standing uno

he greeted William, "

ed proudly d

d with some truth, "you won't find a

s a watch dog, now?" as

nant at the question. "There isn't

Blank, looking at

gs you've done," sa

us' you tell me first 'oo lives at all the

scowling mystery, leaving his pa

torn between instincts of hospitality and a dim suspicion that his family would not afford to Mr. Blank that courtesy which is a guest's due. He looked at Mr. Blank's old gre

an' see our back garden? If we go behind these ole b

in silence except for Jumble, who loudly worried Mr. Blank's trailing boot-strings as he walked. They reac

ely, "you could bring a bit o'

other--" be

er give no one no trouble. Just a slice o' bread,

ad a bril

said eagerly. "That's the lib'ry and no one us

n he swung himself dexterously through the

that fine

Blank clos

a winder, young gent, nor the lar

med with pride. This hero of romance and a

, Mr. Blank," he said with a

Brown's whiskey and soda. While William's back was turned he filled his pockets with the silv

de himself q

m! Come

ispered William. "I

ing-room, and Mrs. de Vere Carter, a neighbour, there, in al

child! Sweet

to his pocket, he found his mother's or Mrs. de Vere Carter's eye fixed upon him and hastily began to eat it himself. He sat, miserable and hot, seeing only the heroic figure starving in the next room, and planned a raid on the lar

ame in, followed by a thin, pale

obert with an air of pride and triu

. In fact Robert's family was weary of the sound of his name, but this was the first ti

of a weight than a pleasure to him. Mrs. de Vere Carter bridled and fluttered, for Fiddle Strings had a society colum

ginning a monologue on The Novel, when William rose and crept from the room like a guilty spirit. He found Mr. Blank under the library table, having heard a noise in the kitchen and fearing a visitor. A cigar and a silver snuffer had fallen fr

d get you sumthin'," he s

'll just go an' look round upstairs on the quiet

ormed the fas

to the hall, but-the dr

lli

ming across the room, then-she stood in the doorway. Her

am!" s

his friend's presence. With what pride and sang-froid had Robert announced his uninvited

r," he announced jauntily

round, awaiting developments

ut horror upon the five silent faces that confr

ar," he pleaded. "

unexpecte

uching story already in print-the tattered hero-the gracious lady-the age of Democ

s a word or gesture. "How proud we are to do anything for our dear heroes! Wounded, perhaps? Ah, poor man!" She floated across to him with a cup of tea and plied him with bread and butter and cake. William sat down meekly on a chair, lo

"was dam'd if he was. See?" Mr. Lewes began to discuss Th

of shrapnel? Ten inches square? Right in at one hip and out at the other? Oh, my po

ork, my poor man?" ask

versation ceased while Mr. Blank drank his tea, just as con

of sandwiches, a plate of bread and butter, and half a cake, he rose slowl

ea. I 'ave. A dam' fine tea. An' I'll not forget yer kindness to a pore ol

to the front door with him, an

n found h

chair disinfected,"

ed smiling to herself and eyein

ther day in a suburban drawing-ro

the house again to the library window. H

airs now. See?" he said. "An' once more, yer

sture he drew his old cap dow

later to find his visitor standing at

id in a quick, business-like voice. "I see yer pa comi

ntered the

They've got some clues, though. It's a gang all right, and one of them is a chap withou

horror-stricken faces before h

g salts! They're o

t gre

cricket cup," he ga

o small, and Mr. Blank too big

awry, holding William by the arm. William looked pale and apprehensive. "He was there," panted Robert, "just getting ou

e expression of one who i

g with him! Trying to pull him bac

excitedly. "I was helpin

, shook hands with him, asked if he was hurt. Mrs. de Vere Car

d the horrid, wretched man! Posing as a hero. Wangling himself into the sweet child's

ded, Mr. Brown came forward and l

he said. "You can buy anything you

ildered count

father," he